Niner, nobody is intentionally spreading lies and misinformation, as if they are trying to trick people into believing something that they know to be false. If you believe their facts are mistaken, call them out on it and let people make up their minds freely. What are you going to do, attack people who say things you disagree with? Are you crazy??
I'm not opposed to free speech. However, you are all familiar I'm sure with the classic example of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded movie theater. You may or may not be aware of the role radio played in the Rwandan genocide. There is a point where certain kinds of speech become so dangerous to society that we regulate them. We have laws against inciting a riot, for example.
I think that talk radio has for some while been a danger to our society. It propagates lies. Read this article for examples.
The Right has set up its own version of the facts, and by demonizing academia and journalism as "Liberal", they shoot down the very institutions that we use to separate truth from falsehood. This creates a perfect situation for one who doesn't want his version of the facts to be challenged; you simply dismiss the challengers as wrong "by definition".
You are like Chuck Schumer, who compared political speech he disagreed with to pornography. You want to talk about yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie theater, as if they intentionally created a certain view point they believed to be false in order to cause chaos?
It's like you believe talk radio listeners are all a mob of mindless morons who follow these evil, manipulative hosts like religious zealots, with no thought or reason at all. It's so liberal of you to think conservatives think that way. The reality is that these hosts read the news and do research to identify and dessiminate their findings, along with their personal beliefs, opinions, and interpretations. Most listeners do the same, using these talk shows as a resource. And if you want to see a mob of mindless morons, look at the masses of Democrat voters looking to the government with their hands out.
How about the hysteria of global warming, and the insane economically crippling anti-capitalist movement this has caused? Or Obama saying the word "crisis" something like 30 times in his most recent speech about the economy- we have laws against speaking of banks going under and thus causing a run on a bank- the same principle applies, so maybe Obama needs to be regulated, too? This goes both ways.
It demonizes half the country as "the enemy", with a "Democrats = Leftists = Liberals = Dirty Hippies = Marxists" blur that many have picked up.
And some on the left haven't demonized the right just the same? And what's with the word demonize? Most talk show hosts simply state the facts. One tiny example: Obama had communist friends in college. Now I am demonizing him? We are just pointing out some facts. You are the one talking about demons- maybe you should take your own hint!
I can understand that people don't like the idea of "some bureaucrat" from "the government" telling a broadcast outlet what they can and can't say about an issue of public importance. To be honest, I'm not that crazy about it myself.
Yeah, neither were the founders of the United States.
Actually, so much so that they made this the very first Amendment to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights.
Notice that nowhere in the Bill of Rights did they mention the right to a job, a house, or healthcare.
Edited by advancdaltruist, 19 February 2009 - 06:13 AM.
